Between the years of 1764 - 1766 many German immigrants settled the steppes of the Russian Volga area.  104 colonies were established on both sides of the Volga River Bank

Some 100 years later, German settlers along the Volga River elected five men to act as scouts to investigate land in Nebraska.  Those pictured  are, Peter Leiker (Obermunjou), Peter Stecklein (Zug), Anton Wasinger (Schoenchen), Nicholas Schamne (Graf), and Jacob Ritter (Luzern).  These five men left Obermunjou, Russia in 1874.  They soon returned to Russia with a favorable report.  Colonists would then leave the following year, 1875 and ultimately settling in Ellis County, Kansas.

NEW ITEMS ADDED

 + Index of German Colonies in Russia

+ Pfeifer, Russia page updated

 
A typical German from Russia home in Ellis County, Kansas
in the late 1880's.

Obituary Cards are one of the most sought after forms of genealogical research, and the most interesting.	Wedding photo of a couple next to the Obermunjou Church in Russia.

South American Volga Germans Links:
 - Alemanes del Wolga

The Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is a local Chapter that works towards the preservation of the folklore, music, genealogy and customs of the Germans from Russia, also know as the Volga German. 

To get more information on this local chapter and how to be come a members click on the sunflower at the left to take you to the Sunflower Chapter website.

Visit the web page of the American Historical
Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR)
to learn more about the people that Catherine the Great recruited from Germany

 
Click on the brochure above for more information .